Tan Yifan cicitan2011gmail.com THE first government-sponsored cloud platform in Shenzhen, Qianhai Digital Cloud Platform, which is powered by famed tech giants including Alibaba Cloud, has become the accelerator for companies to settle in Qianhai, according to Wei Bo, CEO of Laihua, a fast-growing short-video making company. Wei, who moved his company to Qianhai in 2015, when the Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Area was established, said his team has shared in the dividends of the area’s rapid development. “We have grown into the lead of short-video tool and editing company in the country,” said Wei. “Qianhai has driven our development in many ways, especially in providing a free and open cloud platform for us, which has helped us save a large amount of money.” As an Internet company that offers video editing services and tools for its clients, Laihua (Qianhai Hand Drawing Technology and Culture Co. Ltd.) spent over 13 million yuan (US$1.88 million) to purchase services offered by Alibaba Cloud last year. “It’s a huge cost for us. But now the Qianhai cloud can offer us free services before we reach a certain amount of storage,” said Wei. Laihua also enjoys a rent subsidy for a 1,300-square-meter office from Qianhai authority that covers half of its monthly rent. Wei’s company is not an exception in Qianhai, many Qianhai registered firms have enjoyed various kinds of support over the years. From providing capital support to building open-source technology, Qianhai has gradually formed a new industry cluster and environment for businesses to grow. | 